Carriage for carrying and vertically moving tumblers or frames relative to a treatment or processing line

ABSTRACT

A carriage for carrying workpieces such as drums, and frames through a treatment or processing line is described. The carriage is capable of lifting and lowering the workpieces at predetermined intervals as determined by a plurality of treatment or processing stations along the line. The carriage is useful in carrying the workpieces along a treatment line, for example electroplating, wherein the workpieces must be introduced into a tank, rotated while in the tank and from which they must be lifted after completion of the treatment accomplished in each tank.

United States Patent Mazzone [4 1 May 16, 1972 54 CARRIAGE FOR CARRYING568,174 9/1896 Taylor 214/1 RZ VERTICALLY MOVING TUMBLERS 0 2,450,71810/1948 Darnell..... ...2l4/l RZ 1,272,150 7/1918 Thornton ..2l4/l4FRAMES RELATIVE TO A TREATMENT 0R PROCESSING LINE [72] Inventor: ClaudioMazzone, lvrea, Italy [73] Assignee: Ing. C. Olivetti & C., S.p.A.,Ivrea,

(Turin), Italy [22] Filed: Feb. 24, 1970 [211 App]. No.: 13,609

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 26, 1969 Italy .50733 A169[52] U5. Cl ..2l4/1 QC [5] Int. Cl ..B65g 69/00 [58] FieldoiSearch..214l1, l R, 1 R2 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 896,7818/1908 Webster et al .L....214/16 B x Primary Examiner-Gerald M.Forlenza Assistant Examiner -F rank E. Werner Attorney-Birch, Swindler,McKie & Beckett 57 ABSTRACT A carriage for canying workpieces such asdrums. and frames v 14 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented May 16, 19723,662,903

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented May 16, 1972 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 16,1972 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 m2 m? if CARRIAGE FOR CARRYING AND VERTICALLYMOVING TUMBLERS OR FRAMES RELATIVE TO A TREATMENT R PROCESSING LINECROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION Applicant claims priority fromcorresponding Italian Pat. application, Ser. No. 50733-A/69, filed Feb.26, 1969, now Italian Pat. No. 855,160.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Lines for electroplating operations and manyother types of processing and treatment lines include a plurality oftanks disposed side by side and sequentially along the line. In each ofthese tanks at least one state of the processing is carried out andaccordingly the pieces to be treated, carried in tublers or supported onframes, must be clipped for a predetermined time into each tank. Inorder to accomplish the lifting, lowering and translation movements ofthe workpieces, relative to the treatment tanks, without theintervention of an operator and preferably in a fully automatic manneraccording to a predetermined working cycle, use is commonly made of acarriage which is movable along the processing line. The carriage isprovided with means for lowering and lifting the workpieces with respectto the tanks as well as with means for rotating the workpieces insidethe tanks during the treatment which takes place within the tanks.

The means for lowering and lifting the workpieces relative to theprocessing tanks, with which the carriage of known kind are provided,normally include simple rope-driven electric winches. The means forrotating the workpiece inside the tanks usually include a reduction geardriven by an electric motor and a suitable drive-transmission connectingthe reduction gear with the workpiece.

The known carriages of the kind described above suffer from somedrawbacks. First of all, the lifting and lowering mechanism is separateand distinct from the means for rotating the workpiece. This results ina complex structure, requiring two separate motors to accomplish thethree required movements. The two motors are actuated independently ofone another and therefore a complex control system is required. Thisdisadvantage becomes more serious when a fully automatic treatment cycleis desired.

Another disadvantage of the prior art carriages resides in the fact thatcarriages which are equipped to carry tumblers or drums, cannot bereadily and rapidly converted to carry frames.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a carriagewhich overcomes disadvantages enumerated above.

The present invention is directed to a carriage for carrying theworkpiece along the processing line which includes a plurality of drumsfor lifting and lowering the workpieces into and out of the drums. Thecarriage includes at least one endless chain which engages a drivingpinion actuated by a motor capable of rotating in both directions. Themotor actuates a first gear wheel mounted on the carriage through amechanism which permits rotation in only one direction. The motor alsoactuates a second gear wheel which is free to rotate in both directionsand which is secured to a support. The positions of the axes of thedriving pinion of the motor and the first gear wheel are such that thesection of chain between them drops into a loop when the motor rotatesin the sense in which the first gear wheel will not rotate. The positionof the axis of the second gear wheel is such that the gear wheel islifted, with the support means, as the loop is formed.

When the driving pinion rotates in a first direction, and theaforementioned run of chain is kept taut, rotation of the second gearwheel takes place-This rotation is employed to rotate the workpieceinside a processing tank. When the driving pinion is still rotating inthe same direction, but the section of chain is not under tension,lowering of the workpiece into the tank is obtained. Finally, when thedriving pinion rotates in the direction opposite to that mentionedabove, then lifting of the workpiece from the tank takes place.Consequently, the same mechanism and motor which causes lifting andlowering of the workpiece will also cause the workpiece to rotate. Thiscontrasts with carriages of the prior art which require two mechanismsand motors in order to accomplish these two movements.

By virtue of the arrangement briefly described above and of thearrangement of the workpiece support means, to be discussed hereinbelow,it is further possible to use interchangeably the same carriage forcarrying both tumbler and frames. The operation of changing from one tothe other of these two operations is extremely simple and rapid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONAs best shown in FIG. 2 the carriage l is supported by parallel rails 2.Accordingly, the carriage 1 moves above a line of tanks not shown,powered by any of several known means, also not shown.

As shown in FIG. I, the carriage 1 includes two side plates 3,3, whichare connected by rigid cross members to form a unitary structure. Anelectric drive motor 4 is housed within the carriage and rotates anupper shaft 5, which is rotatably mounted in the plates 3,3. Shaft 5 canbe connected to motor 4 by use of a chain or gear train, as is wellknown.

Mounted on each end of the shaft 5 is a chain gear wheel or drivingpinion 6 and 6. As best seen in FIG. 2 on each of the side plates 3,3and in the same vertical plane as the wheels 6 and 6', and chain gearwheels 7 and 7 are provided. The chain gear 7 and 7' are connected tothe carriage by means of an overriding clutch or freewheel not shown.The clutch permits rotation of gear 7 and 7 in only one direction.Clutches of this type are known in the art and accordingly need not beshown in detail. Transmission chain gears 8 and 8', are rotatablymounted relative to the carriage.

The two sides of carriage 1 are identical and accordingly thedescription hereinafter is directed to the portion indicated by thesection line II--II.

The set of gear wheels 6, 7, 8 is in engagement with an endless chain 9which runs on the wheels as shown in dash and dot lines in FIG. 2. Thechain 9 passes around a gear wheel 10 located near the bottom of thecarriage. Gear wheel 10 is fixed to the end of a horizontal lower shaft11. As seen in FIG. I, there are two such gears 10 and 10' supported onshaft 11.

The diameters of thegear wheels and the positions of the centers of thegear wheels 6, 7 and 8 are chosen to enable the chain 9 to form twohorizontal chain sections, or runs. One of the chain sections,designated with the reference numeral 12,

- extends between the wheels 6 and 7, while the other chain sec- Asstated above gear wheels 7 and 7' are constrained against rotation inone direction. v

The rotational movement permitted by the clutch is in a direction whichpermits the chain 9 to move from the wheel 7 towards the wheel 6.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2the carriage includes a tumbler 17 into whichthe workpiece can be placed. The support for the tumbler 17 includesshaft 11, two chain gear wheels 15, 15' which are fixed on the shaft 11,two chain gear wheels 16, 16' which are integral with the tumbler 17,and two chains 18, 18' which are engaged with gear wheels 16,16, 15 and15. lt

is advantageous, but not necessary, to have the wheels 16, 16"

mounted with a slight degree of eccentricity with respect to the axis ofthe tumbler l7.

The support means for the frame 21 includes the shaft 11, two cams 19,19' (FIG. 3) fastened to the ends of said shaft 11, and a yoke 20 forsupporting the frame wl which is used to support the workpiece.

As seen in FIG. 1 the yoke 20 includes two plates 22,22 connected bymeans of one or more cross members 23, upon which the frame 21 can rest.Each of the plates 22,22 is provided with a roller, 24 and 24'respectively. The rollers 24 and 24 act against the cams 19 and 19'. Theplates 22 and 22 also act against the rollers, 25 and 25 respectively.The axes of the rollers of each pair lie in the same vertical plane andeach pair of rollers is adapted to slide inside the vertical guide ways26 and 26' provided in the side plates 3 and 3' of the carriage.

The operation of the carriage is best understood by assuming first thatthe carriage is equipped to carry a tumbler 17 into which the workpieceto be treated is inserted. To this end, the tumbler 17 is simplysupported on the shaft 11 by means of the chains 18 and 18, which are inengagement with the gear wheels 15, 15 and 16,16 respectively. The yoke20, which is shown in its lower position relative to the carriage inFIGS. 1 and 2 is lifted to the top of the carriage by sliding therollers 25, 25' inside the ways 26, 26'. The yoke is then locked in theraised position by well known means, not shown.

Further assume, with reference to the elements of a single side plate ofthe carriage, for instance the plate 3, that the chain 9 has taken theconfiguration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The chain section 12 betweenwheels 6 and 7 is then under tension. By starting the motor 4 rotatingin a clockwise direction the driving pinion 6 also rotates clockwise asseen in FIG. 2. This direction of rotation as stated above, permitsrotation of the gear wheel 7 which is keyed to the clutch. The chain 9,while maintaining the initial configuration shown in FIG. 2, causes therotation of wheels 7, 8 and 10. Wheel 10 then acts through the shaft 11and the gear wheels 15 and 16 to cause the tumbler 17 to rotate. Becausethe wheels 16, 16' are slightly eccentric with respect to the tumbleraxis, the rotation takes place with a certain oscillation ofeccentricity e. FIG. 4 diagrammatically shows the position taken by thevarious parts of the carriage in this first stage of the cycle. Thisposition is the lowered position in which the rotating tumbler 17remains in one of the processing drums for a predetermined time.

Reversal of the direction of rotation of the motor 4, and hence that ofthe driving pinion 6 causes the chain 9, which engages the gears torotate in the same direction that is counter clockwise. Since the clutchwhich carries the gear wheel 7 does not permit counter clockwiserotation of the gear 7, during the counter clockwise rotation of thedriving pinion 6, section run 14 of chain 9 remains stationary, whilethe section of chain 14 is fed to the right hand side of the pinion 6. Aloop is formed in the recess 27 the configuration of which is shown inbroken lines in FIG. 2. During this stage of the working cycle, thewheels 10, 10' are arised, as is the shaft 11 and the.tumbler 17. Thisoperation is diagrammatically shown in FIG. 5. At this point it isimportant to observe that, as contrasted with the carriages of the priorart, the lifting movement of the tumbler is accompanied by a rotation ofthe tumbler, thereby assisting in draining the workpieces contrainedtherein.

The lowering movement of the tumbler 17 is accomplished by reversing thedirection of rotation of the motor 4. The chain portion 1 whichpreviously gathered as a loop in the recess 27, feeds to the left handside of wheel 6 and the shaft 11 is lowered as diagrammatically shown inFIG. 6.

When the carriage is intended to be equipped for carrying workpiecessuch as frames instead of a tumbler, then after removing the tumbler 17and locking the chains 18, 18' in any suitable manner it suffices simplyto lower the yoke 20 until the rollers 24,24 come in contact with thecorresponding cams 19,19 and subsequently mounting the frames 21 thereonas shown in FIG. 3.

The carriage and frames 21 are now ready for a processing cycle. Thecycle includes the steps of treatment in the bath drum and of raisingand lowering the frames from the drum. During the treatment in theplating bath, the frames are reciprocated vertically by the action ofthe cams 19,19 cooperating with the rollers 24,24. As is well known,such reciprocating movement greatly improves the results obtainable fromelectroplating operation.

The invention is therefore seen to be directed to a carriage capable ofraising and lowering a workpiece and which is also capable of rotatingthe workpiece during the period of treatment in the drum. Because thesethree movements are accomplished by means of a single motor theinventive carriage lends itself to fully automatic operation. Also,because a single motor is required, the control circuit for automaticoperation is simple as compared to those required for the prior artsystems.

Many modifications are obviously possible including the modification ofthe workpiece holding mechanism for usages in treatment or processinglines other than electroplating.

Iclaim 1. A carriage for moving workpieces of any configuration along aprocessing line and having a workpiece carrying means which is raisedand lowered at stations along said line and is capable of rotating saidworkpiece if desired comprising:

a drive member mounted for rotation in two directions with respect tosaid carriage;

a control member mounted for rotation in one direction with respect tosaid carriage; an idler member mounted for rotation in two directionswith respect to said carriage; v

' a supporting member for supportingsaid workpiece carrying meansmounted for rotation in two directions with respect to said carriage;and

a continuous linking member engaging said drive member,

said control member, said idler member and said supporting member sothat said members are driven by said drive member. v

2. The carriage of claim 1 further including a cam associated with saidsupporting memberand said linking member so that said carrying meansoscillates.

3. The carriage of claim 2 wherein said linking member is an endlesschain which determines the lowest position of said supporting member andsaid oscillations occur at said lowest position;

and wherein said supporting member is drum having at least one gearinclined with respect to the axis of said drum and engaging said chain.

4. The carriage of claim 1 wherein said control member is mounted onsaid carriage through a clutch which permits rotation of said controlmember in only one direction.

5. The carriage of claim 4 wherein said drive members and saidcontrolmember are arranged so that a first section of said linking memberextends therebetween, and said section is under tension when said drivemember rotates in a first direction and forms a loop when said drivemember rotates in a second direction. 1

6. The carriages of claim 5 wherein said first direction is thedirection in which said control member is capable of rotating, and saidcarriage is lowered during the direction of rotation and is raisedduring the other direction of rotation.

7. A carriage for carrying a workpiece and having at least one supportmeans for raising, lowering, and selectively rotating said workpiece,each said support means comprising:

an endless support chain,

a driving sprocket mounted on said carriage and engaging said supportchain,

drive means coupled to said driving sprocket to rotate said drivingsprocket in first and second directions,

a first sprocket mounted on said carriage and engaging said supportchain at a point in a vertical plane spaced horizontially from saiddriving sprocket,

means preventing rotation of said first sprocket in said firstdirection, and,

a second sprocket attached to said support and engaging said supportchain in a lower horizontal plane than said driving sprocket when saidsupport chain is taut, said second sprocket being attached to saidworkpiece,

whereby when said driving sprocket is rotated in said first directionand said first sprocket is prevented from rotating, a loop will beformed of said support chain between said driving sprocket and saidfirst sprocket, thereby pulling said second sprocket and said workpieceupwardly towards said driving sprocket, and when said driving sprocketis rotated in said second direction said first sprocket also rotates andsaid second sprocket and said workpiece are lowered, said support chainthen becoming taut and causing said second sprocket to continuouslyrotate in said lower position so long as said driving sprocket isrotated in said second direction.

8. The carriage of claim 7 wherein said means preventing rotationcomprises an over-riding clutch.

9. The carriage of claim 7 further comprising a third sprocket beingmounted on said carriage and in engagement with said support chain.

10. The carriage of claim 9 wherein said second sprocket engages saidsupport chain between the points of engagement of said driving sprocketand said third sprocket.

11. The carriage of claim 7 further comprising:

a fourth sprocket connected to and rotatable with said second sprocket,

a tumbler for carrying said workpiece,

a fifth sprocket fixed to said tumbler, and,

an endless tumbler chain engaged by said fourth sprocket and said fifthsprocket.

12. The carriage of claim 11 wherein the axis of said fifth sprocket iseccentric with respect to the axis of said tumbler.

13. The carriage of claim 7 wherein said support includes at least onesupport mechanism attached to said second sprocket and bearing theweight of said workpiece.

14. The carriage of claim 7 wherein said carriage comprises a pair ofspaced support means.

1. A carriage for moving workpieces of any configuration along aprocessing line and having a workpiece carrying means which is raisedand lowered at stations along said line and is capable of rotating saidworkpiece if desired comprising: a drive member mounted for rotation intwo directions with respect to said carriage; a control member mountedfor rotation in one direction with respect to said carriage; an idlermember mounted for rotation in two directions with respect to saidcarriage; a supporting member for supporting said workpiece carryingmeans mounted for rotation in two directions with respect to saidcarriage; and a continuous linking member engaging said drive member,said control member, said idler member and said supporting meMber sothat said members are driven by said drive member.
 2. The carriage ofclaim 1 further including a cam associated with said supporting memberand said linking member so that said carrying means oscillates.
 3. Thecarriage of claim 2 wherein said linking member is an endless chainwhich determines the lowest position of said supporting member and saidoscillations occur at said lowest position; and wherein said supportingmember is drum having at least one gear inclined with respect to theaxis of said drum and engaging said chain.
 4. The carriage of claim 1wherein said control member is mounted on said carriage through a clutchwhich permits rotation of said control member in only one direction. 5.The carriage of claim 4 wherein said drive members and said controlmember are arranged so that a first section of said linking memberextends therebetween, and said section is under tension when said drivemember rotates in a first direction and forms a loop when said drivemember rotates in a second direction.
 6. The carriages of claim 5wherein said first direction is the direction in which said controlmember is capable of rotating, and said carriage is lowered during thedirection of rotation and is raised during the other direction ofrotation.
 7. A carriage for carrying a workpiece and having at least onesupport means for raising, lowering, and selectively rotating saidworkpiece, each said support means comprising: an endless support chain,a driving sprocket mounted on said carriage and engaging said supportchain, drive means coupled to said driving sprocket to rotate saiddriving sprocket in first and second directions, a first sprocketmounted on said carriage and engaging said support chain at a point in avertical plane spaced horizontially from said driving sprocket, meanspreventing rotation of said first sprocket in said first direction, and,a second sprocket attached to said support and engaging said supportchain in a lower horizontal plane than said driving sprocket when saidsupport chain is taut, said second sprocket being attached to saidworkpiece, whereby when said driving sprocket is rotated in said firstdirection and said first sprocket is prevented from rotating, a loopwill be formed of said support chain between said driving sprocket andsaid first sprocket, thereby pulling said second sprocket and saidworkpiece upwardly towards said driving sprocket, and when said drivingsprocket is rotated in said second direction said first sprocket alsorotates and said second sprocket and said workpiece are lowered, saidsupport chain then becoming taut and causing said second sprocket tocontinuously rotate in said lower position so long as said drivingsprocket is rotated in said second direction.
 8. The carriage of claim 7wherein said means preventing rotation comprises an over-riding clutch.9. The carriage of claim 7 further comprising a third sprocket beingmounted on said carriage and in engagement with said support chain. 10.The carriage of claim 9 wherein said second sprocket engages saidsupport chain between the points of engagement of said driving sprocketand said third sprocket.
 11. The carriage of claim 7 further comprising:a fourth sprocket connected to and rotatable with said second sprocket,a tumbler for carrying said workpiece, a fifth sprocket fixed to saidtumbler, and, an endless tumbler chain engaged by said fourth sprocketand said fifth sprocket.
 12. The carriage of claim 11 wherein the axisof said fifth sprocket is eccentric with respect to the axis of saidtumbler.
 13. The carriage of claim 7 wherein said support includes atleast one support mechanism attached to said second sprocket and bearingthe weight of said workpiece.
 14. The carriage of claim 7 wherein saidcarriage comprises a pair of spaced support means.